How did we go from animal husbandry, where farmers cared for their animals, to "meat science"? From a relationship with living beings, to treating them like a commodity? Those who abuse animals are likely to abuse other people, and that includes farmworkers.

About Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States: The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization, with more than 11 million members and constituents. Wayne's work on animal issues has been featured in thousands of newspapers and magazines across the country. Wayne blogs daily at Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation and is the author of the 2011 book The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them, published by William Morrow.

This talk is part of Session One: Meet for TEDxFruitvale, which was held on October 14, 2011 at Mills College in Oakland, CA. The conference's theme was Harvesting Change, and it focused on farmworkers, labor and other social justice movements, and fair labor practices in business. http://www.tedxfruitvale.org/

About TEDx, x = independently organized event:

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)